For the first lap, I struggled to make my way through the pack...I was feeling squirrely & odd. Finally made a little gap, but the front group was gone, gone, gone...damn! Thought about sticking with the second group and working with some girls in the wind, but...nope.

So, there I was...clamoring to grab the front five, pushing to make sure nobody else was breathing down my neck....

Initially, I felt lame about my race.

I didn't like my goofy near-misses, my lack of energy or finesse...but, then I got over myself (that happens often these days)...

I felt scrappy out there.

I tried my hardest to tear up that sand pit (and ran like hell when I couldn't ride the first stretch).

What I lacked in cool, I made up for in heart (that's my consolation at least).

And I didn't go down in the poop.

So...there you have it, my take on the very clever, very fun Fair Hill Cross.

Yes, it was chilly today. And windy.

So, we are all badasses...all 23 women who got their shit together and ventured out early (likely in the dark) this morning...for what? To race around and around and around an imaginative & challenging course. To chase. To play outside.